Jupiter Money vs Wise: Founders, CEOs and History
Jupiter Money was founded in 2019 by Jitendra Gupta, Vishnu Jerome and is led by Jitendra Gupta. Wise was founded in 2011 by Kristo Käärmann, Taavet Hinrikus and is led by Kristo Käärmann.
Company facts
Jupiter Money
- Founded
- 2019
- Headquarters
- Bengaluru, Karnataka, India (registered office: Mumbai)
- Current CEO
- Jitendra Gupta
- Employees
- 450
Wise
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom
- Current CEO
- Kristo Käärmann
- Employees
- 5,499
Founders
Jupiter Money
Jitendra Gupta
Jitendra Gupta is the founder and CEO of Jupiter. A chartered accountant, he founded Citrus Pay in 2011, sold it to PayU in 2016 for about $130 million, and ran PayU India before starting Jupiter in 2019. Jitendra Gupta was born in 1981.
Vishnu Jerome
Vishnu Jerome co-founded Jupiter Money in 2019 alongside Jitendra Gupta. As a highly experienced legal architect (he founded the law firm Jerome Merchant + Partners), he played an absolutely critical role in navigating the incredibly complex, highly restrictiv…
Wise
Kristo Käärmann
Kristo Käärmann co-founded TransferWise with Taavet Hinrikus in 2011 and has been chief executive since 2017, when Hinrikus stepped back from the CEO role.
Taavet Hinrikus
Taavet Hinrikus co-founded TransferWise in 2011 and served as its first chief executive until 2017. He later chaired the board before stepping down from that role, and has since focused on investing in early-stage companies. Taavet Hinrikus was born in 1981.
CEOs and their tenures
Jupiter Money
- Jitendra Gupta2019–present
Founder & CEO
A chartered accountant and seasoned fintech pioneer who previously founded Citrus Pay (sold to Naspers for $130M) and led PayU India, Gupta has been a prominent architect of India's neobanking sector.
Source
Wise
- Taavet Hinrikus2011–2017
Co-founder and CEO
As Co-Founder (and the absolute first employee at Skype), he provided the critical early vision and venture capital networking required to turn a simple idea into a massive global fintech giant.
Source - Kristo Käärmann2017–present
Co-founder and CEO
As Co-Founder and CEO, he acts as the absolute driving operational force, maintaining the company's fanatical obsession with forcing transfer fees as close to zero as mathematically possible.
Source
Timeline: Jupiter Money and Wise side by side
2011Wise
TransferWise launches
Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus launch TransferWise in London.
2013Wise
Valar Ventures Investment
Peter Thiel's Valar Ventures led a $6 million investment in TransferWise in 2013.
2014Wise
Series B Funding
TransferWise raised $25 million in 2014 in a round that included Richard Branson.
2015Wise
$58 million round led by Andreessen Horowitz
TransferWise raised $58 million in a Series C round led by Andreessen Horowitz in January 2015, taking total funding past $90 million.
2017Wise
Multi-currency account
The Borderless account, now the Wise Account, lets customers hold balances in several currencies.
2019Jupiter Money
Jitendra Gupta and Vishnu Jerome start Jupiter; $24M seed round at about a $70M valuation.
2019Wise
$3.5 Billion Valuation
A secondary share sale in May 2019 valued TransferWise at $3.5 billion.
2020Wise
$5 Billion Valuation
A secondary share sale in July 2020 valued TransferWise at $5 billion.
2021Jupiter Money
Jupiter app launches with Federal Bank; acquires savings app Easyplan; $45M Series B co-led by Nubank.
2021Jupiter Money
December: $86M Series C led by Tiger Global and QED at about a $710M valuation.
2021Wise
Rename and London direct listing
TransferWise becomes Wise and lists directly on the London Stock Exchange in July.
2022Jupiter Money
Acquires HR-tech startup sumHR to support salary accounts (disclosed February 2023).
2024Jupiter Money
FY24 consolidated operating revenue reaches ~$5.94 million (₹51.2 crore); loss narrows 23% to ~$27.1 million (₹233.6 crore).
2025Jupiter Money
October: raises about $15M from Mirae Asset, BeeNext, 3one4 Capital and Gupta at a flat ~$600M valuation.
2026Jupiter Money
Talks to buy a minority stake in SBM Bank India collapse; Jupiter focuses on reaching breakeven.
2026Wise
Nasdaq primary listing
Wise begins trading on Nasdaq under WSE on May 11, 2026, keeping a secondary LSE listing.
2026Wise
FY2026 results
Wise reports net revenue of $2,502.8 million and net income of $498.7 million for the year ended March 31, 2026.
Acquisitions
Jupiter Money
- sumHR2022Undisclosed
- Easyplan2021Undisclosed
- EasyPlan2021Undisclosed
- Mitter.io2021Undisclosed
Questions about Jupiter Money vs Wise
Who is the CEO of Jupiter Money and Wise Group plc?
Jupiter Money is led by Jitendra Gupta and Wise Group plc is led by Kristo Käärmann. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Jupiter Money founded vs Wise Group plc?
Wise Group plc was founded in 2011 — 8 years before Jupiter Money, which was founded in 2019. Wise Group plc's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Jupiter Money.
How many employees does Jupiter Money have compared to Wise Group plc?
Jupiter Money employs approximately 450 people, while Wise Group plc employs approximately 5,499. Wise Group plc has the larger workforce at 5,499 employees, compared to Jupiter Money's 450. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Jupiter Money and Wise Group plc headquartered?
Jupiter Money is headquartered in India and Wise Group plc is headquartered in United Kingdom. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Jupiter Money and Wise Group plc?
Jupiter Money was founded by Jitendra Gupta, Vishnu Jerome. Wise Group plc was founded by Kristo Käärmann, Taavet Hinrikus.
Which company has a longer operating history — Jupiter Money or Wise Group plc?
Wise Group plc has been operating for approximately 15 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Jupiter Money has been in operation for around 7 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Jupiter Money vs Wise overview